SEC coaches say Texas A&M could be welcome addition

With the announcement from Texas A&M officials that it intends to leave the Big 12 conference, the spotlight once again shines on the SEC - the conference widely suspected to be where the Aggies are headed.

For current SEC coaches, adding A&M might not be such a bad thing.

"I think it's certainly an interesting view of our conference,'' LSU coach Les Miles said Wednesday. "It gives us a Texas draw, certainly you would think that the Texas student-athletes would have an opportunity to see themselves attending SEC schools, and hopefully this gives us an opportunity to be even more serious about those guys that are participating in football in Texas. Again, a very quality football team. It probably gives some advantages to our conference.''

South Carolina and Arkansas were both added to the league in 1992, and Gamecocks' coach Steve Spurrier is among those who would welcome Texas A&M, although it most likely wouldn't affect the Gamecocks much on an annual basis.

"Certainly if that comes to fruition and A&M joins the SEC we'll certainly welcome them,'' Spurrier said. "I'm sure they'll be in the Western Division so we probably won't play them but once every three or four years, something like that, over here. But they're a big time institution, excellent athletic department, all their sports are very good. I think their girls' basketball won the national championship last year, so they will be a huge addition to the SEC. To get into Texas really increases the SEC markets and all that kind of stuff. So if it happens, we certainly welcome them them.''

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